Intelligence needs to be addressed now

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, November 21, 2004

On Saturday, a deal was struck between congressional members and the Bush administration to overhaul intelligence agencies in the manner recommended by the Sept. 11 commission. The agreement didn't hold up for long. Republicans in the House blocked passage of the legislation only hours after the agreement was reached.

Those who fought to block the measure raised concerns about the military chain of command being disrupted. Others pointed to immigration laws not being altered enough. Those certainly are important considerations, but after Saturday's blockage, this proposed legislation would appear to be dead. In our mind, that would be a mistake.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert told the Associated Press Saturday the legislation still could pass this year, pointing out both chambers are in session until December. Of course, technically he's right. But realistically he's probably closer to wrong. And if it doesn't pass this year, lawmakers will have to start from scratch come January when new lawmakers and committee members take their posts.

Hastert was without doubt right about one thing he told the media, "it's hard to make changes." But no one said being a legislator would be easy. And it is up to our legislators to enact necessary reforms to improve operations at our intelligence agencies and the safety of our country as a whole.

The Sept. 11 panel was both thorough and swift in its investigation and analysis of the Sept. 11 attacks. It's work has been lauded by officials on both sides of the aisle. And that work calls for some very specific changes in our intelligence community and other security matters. Our hope is that legislators will proceed with the same thoroughness and swiftness that the panel did. Time is, indeed, of the essence.